“I...really don’t feel like having company today.” She sniffled and her voice cracked as she spoke, like she'd been crying for hours.
“Okay, what can I do? Can I just sit with you for a bit?”
Even though the door was still cracked open, she'd turned away so I couldn’t see her. I could hear her sniffling. A moment later, the door opened more and I stepped into her house. Duke followed close behind me. Every single light in the house was on, which was not normal.
She walked away from the door without verifying that I was inside or locking it, and I could tell it wasn't because she trusted me this time. Something made me think she didn't care at the moment. The soft sounds of her slippers shuffling on the hardwood floor echoed down the hall and into the front room. Her pace was much slower than normal. I turned to lock the front door and then followed her back to her room where she crawled into bed. She threw the blanket over her head and started to sniffle again.
“Umm...Hey, Rae. Can I come in?” I stood at her door, not wanting to enter yet in case it made her feel uncomfortable. Silence.
Duke ran in and hopped up on the foot of the bed, facing the doorway, like he knew she needed protection from something.
“Okay, honey, if you don't want me in here, now is the time to say so, cause I'm coming in.” I paused again, waiting for an answer that never came.
I walked over to the side of the bed she was lying on and knelt next to the bed. “Hey. I'm here. What can I do to help?” I kept my voice gentle. I could see the blanket shaking so either she was shaking from fear or silently crying.
She sniffled and breathed shakily. “He found me.” Her voice came out so tiny, I almost didn’t hear it.
“Wait, what?” I thought I must not have heard her correctly.
“I don't know how. I never t-told him where my parents lived. Just the state.” She took a long and very shaky breath. “I mean, sure, he could have looked it up online, but—” She was sobbing now, and I wanted so badly to take away the pain and fear she felt. “I don’t even have the same last name as my mom and step-dad...”
“I mean, it's still possible to find it online, but why now? Rae, did he show up here? I didn't see any guys on the cameras.” I reached out and touched her shoulder, still covered by the blankets. She jumped at my touch, and I quickly apologized for scaring her.I’m an idiot. Of course she would be jumpy when she couldn’t see me, especially after this.
She pulled the covers off her head and looked at me. Her tear-streaked face broke my heart. She looked so scared. “No...He sent something...Kitchen table.”
I walked into the kitchen and found the box addressed to Rae, the frame on the floor, surrounded by broken glass. I lifted the lid of the box, and the note inside, with a dish towel in case fingerprints could be pulled from them. I didn’t care if there was a slim chance of getting a good print, but I was not about to take any chances. I looked at the note and then the bedroom door. I ran my hand over my face and pinched the bridge of my nose to calm myself.No wonder she's shut down.
I looked at the frame and realized that I had stepped on a couple pieces of broken glass. I bent over to pick up the frame from the ground and turned it over, being careful to not cut myself. As soon as I turned it, I saw a familiar face—shaggy blonde hair and a thin scar across his lip. My vision narrowed to the photo I was holding. I felt my world spinning. I had seen this man before but did not know he was her ex. The delivery driver. That was her ex. If I had known, I would not have let him get this close to her.
A wave of nausea hit me, and I forced the feeling aside. She needed me. He had been so close, scoping out the place and my awareness of the situation. He had been watching for so long. I wanted to hit the ground running so I could find this guy, but she needed me right now. I didn’t know what to do at this exact moment, but I knew one thing for certain: she was not staying here anymore.
I walked back into her room and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the covers off her face with care. She didn't look at me.
“Hey. Look at me.” I touched her shoulder. “I'm right here.” I made sure to be gentle with her. I couldn’t handle it if I scared her again. “You are safe. He can't get to you when I'm here. I won't let him.”
“Caleb—” She looked at me and then at the ceiling. “Can I stay with you?” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I don’t feel safe. Not here.”
